Spacing out in fencing

[Marquis1972]

Point taken. What I could try is consider the economical fencing shoes on Absolute and see how they compare in difference without blowing out the budget. I usually wear size 7.5. The other is the Adidas Stabil 7 court shoe but they might be close to $100 but not easy to find.

This is going to take some time and research.

Maybe it is the flat sole I need with a wide berth.

EDIT: never mind, they are over $100.

I think you will probably see some benefit from fencing shoes. I think some of it will be psychological, I think some of it will be physical, but I do not think it will be a magic bullet-Tardis thing that will take you back to the physical and mental condition that you were in 20 years ago.

There was, however, a thread a while back, about why we wear shoes at all. There's a trend in running that suggests that humans evolved to run barefoot, and so runners can at least learn something by at least sometimes running barefoot, and sometimes running in very minimalist running shoes. I openly wondered if there was any indication that fencers might gain anything by a similar exercise, and the general consensus was ".... uh, we can't really think of anything...."

[Displacement]

I'm inattentive ADD and an epeeist as well, so I definitely know the feeling. I space out a lot in classes, and even frequently while people are talking to me (yikes!), but for fencing I can usually keep a really sharp focus. I think it's a common thing among people with ADD, I've seen it referred to as hyperfocus.

I find that caffeine helps sometimes - as do a lot of stimulants with ADD - but I usually save that for help during class, while fencing I can do it with or without. I've got enough running through my mind in terms of plans for individual actions, overall strategies for the bout, and observation and analysis of my opponent that it doesn't give me an opportunity to space out, so I stay locked in instead. Maybe try making your bouts more active, if you're ADD then more frequent and varied stimulation caused by the fencing can help you keep your attention on it.

I know this won't matter until you are at a top national level, but are the stimulant ADD drugs considered a banned substance?

Don't want you to be labeled a juicer

[MyrddinsPrecint]

I know this won't matter until you are at a top national level, but are the stimulant ADD drugs considered a banned substance?

Don't want you to be labeled a juicer

The stimulant ADD drugs are banned substances are banned for competition. I can't remember off the top of my head if they're banned for practice -- but, in any case, the only stimulant that was mentioned by name, caffeine, which is used by many people with ADD to control minor symptoms, is NOT banned..... so

[JacoKierkegaard]

Yeah, I'm pretty sure that even though I drink a fantastic amount of coffee during the day, it won't get me banned from anything.

[AdamH]

Hello,

I'm curious about those who have experienced 'spacing out' while in a bout. How do you shake it off in order to re-focus which sometimes being deaf can have a slight adverse effect, trying to struggle to read lips. I have suspected that I may have had some ADHD and need to figure out a way to snap out of a certain stupor. I fence epee for the most part and have never directed a bout officially because I'm not certified yet.

When I'm asked to direct someone's matches, I politely decline due to the fact that I'm not certified and inexperienced. Not only that, I don't want to screw things up especially if I 'space out' a lot.

Just wondering about others if they had a similar experience.

Thanks.

-A

To return to the OP:

There are several factors at work and a few short and long term solutions have previously been answered.

Experience, as you are finding, can count for a lot. When we talk about the 'fencing phrase', 'conversation of blades' or even 'phraseology', it's not too far off one perspective. Fencing is a bit of a foreign language and becoming conversant and aware of the little things takes time, exposure and a developed sensitivity. This makes the sport interesting. If it's a natural language, then there may well be dialects, accents and idioms peculiar to geographical locations, groups or schools. It's fair to say it's evolving and reasonably fluid.

You may understand the movement, the tinking of the blades, the patterns of footwork, the sense of threat and reponse, but it should come together more and more in time.

For focus when competing, it may be helpful to concentrate most of your attention on one spot; perhaps the shoulder hole or mask - both have their adherents and you attention and eyes will micro-flip to other spots, alerted by your peripheral vision.

Having your own 'A game' is also useful, as you can practice and control your and your opponent's actions within your chosen limits. Epee 2.0 is a good book. Have a backup plan, just in case, too

Caffeine by itself is useful, however in addition to the adrenaline spike and other nervous system heightening attributes, there should be a bit of sugar in there - a nice glass or two of apple juice before the tournament may be decent. Caffeine increases blood sugar levels by anything up to 10% depending on dose; avoids a sugar and caffeine crash, which you're also going to have to avoid by regular caffeine top ups throughout the day. Also not on the WADA list for several years.

Caffeine in larger doses can be detrimental to particular game styles and strokes, particular if you are a highly point-point technical type (french gripper, maybe) and it's something to get used to, to avoid reacting/biting with parries/counters at every sudden move by your opponent.

Stick to particular strokes at a variety of distances and eventually when the opponent does something mad, you'll be able to recognise it as a mistake and deliver the correct response. Then broaden your game to weirder/esoteric strokes as you feel you need fill tactical holes in an overall strategic game.

So, simple stuff done well - distance and timing.

Enjoy!

[Marquis1972]

Thanks for the advice .

I've avoided drinking coffee when fencing because I get jumpy easily. In fact, when I tried yoga several years ago, I had not eaten all day and had coffee, I actually passed out during the yoga session and could'nt walk for a week or so and because the room was in hot temperature, it made things worse.

Therefore, fencing in a jacket and mask has a similar feeling of being in a 'steam room'. I always drink water during the sessions or tournaments.

In fact, every time I have to attend a tournament, I drink tea in the morning first thing to calm myself down and breathe. If you took martial arts, then the breathing skills come handy from that realm to fencing.

I do agree that it takes time and experience to improve on the focus and since I've been doing this for more than a year, there were some improvements. But I did notice that when I get tired, I lose energy and when that happens, I 'space out' and need to shake it off. It's the energy level I have to watch out for.

EDIT: The Epee 2.0 book is in my wish list and have been trying to get a copy of it for a long time.

To return to the OP:

There are several factors at work and a few short and long term solutions have previously been answered.

Experience, as you are finding, can count for a lot. When we talk about the 'fencing phrase', 'conversation of blades' or even 'phraseology', it's not too far off one perspective. Fencing is a bit of a foreign language and becoming conversant and aware of the little things takes time, exposure and a developed sensitivity. This makes the sport interesting. If it's a natural language, then there may well be dialects, accents and idioms peculiar to geographical locations, groups or schools. It's fair to say it's evolving and reasonably fluid.

You may understand the movement, the tinking of the blades, the patterns of footwork, the sense of threat and reponse, but it should come together more and more in time.

For focus when competing, it may be helpful to concentrate most of your attention on one spot; perhaps the shoulder hole or mask - both have their adherents and you attention and eyes will micro-flip to other spots, alerted by your peripheral vision.

Having your own 'A game' is also useful, as you can practice and control your and your opponent's actions within your chosen limits. Epee 2.0 is a good book. Have a backup plan, just in case, too

Caffeine by itself is useful, however in addition to the adrenaline spike and other nervous system heightening attributes, there should be a bit of sugar in there - a nice glass or two of apple juice before the tournament may be decent. Caffeine increases blood sugar levels by anything up to 10% depending on dose; avoids a sugar and caffeine crash, which you're also going to have to avoid by regular caffeine top ups throughout the day. Also not on the WADA list for several years.

Caffeine in larger doses can be detrimental to particular game styles and strokes, particular if you are a highly point-point technical type (french gripper, maybe) and it's something to get used to, to avoid reacting/biting with parries/counters at every sudden move by your opponent.

Stick to particular strokes at a variety of distances and eventually when the opponent does something mad, you'll be able to recognise it as a mistake and deliver the correct response. Then broaden your game to weirder/esoteric strokes as you feel you need fill tactical holes in an overall strategic game.

So, simple stuff done well - distance and timing.

Enjoy!

[KD5MDK]

Ahhh you beat me to it

Yea, Epee is like watching paint dry for speed.

Tikhomirov scored a touch (or was scored on, once) every 12 seconds in the 2nd period of one of his bouts in the Junior ME yesterday. Score went from 5-0 to 15-5 in 2 minutes 10 seconds. Included 4 doubles and 1 single against him, for a total of 11 scoring halts in that time.

[InFerrumVeritas]

Tikhomirov scored a touch (or was scored on, once) every 12 seconds in the 2nd period of one of his bouts in the Junior ME yesterday. Score went from 5-0 to 15-5 in 2 minutes 10 seconds. Included 4 doubles and 1 single against him, for a total of 11 scoring halts in that time.

Yes, but "bounce, bounce, poke" is pretty boring, even when it's fast.